Valparaiso City Hosts Quarterly League Of Cities Dinner in New Museum Addition
On January 16, 2025, the City of Valparaiso hosted the League of Cities Quarterly Dinner Meeting in the new 1400 sq. ft. addition to the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. The city mayors, council members and key staff in attendance were from Valparaiso, Niceville, Fort Walton, Crestview, Destin, Cinco Bayou and Niceville. After a delicious dinner prepared by Della Rhodes and Ivy Slaton and a working agenda of county business, the group was treated to a performance by the Heritage Arts Players of the mini-musical “Valparaiso.”
Written and directed by Barbara Palmgren, the following characters came to life and the audience learned about the history of Valparaiso. The historic characters were James Plew, played by Ken Walsh; Lula Edge, played by Barb Palmgren; and Addie Lewis. played by Susan Page. Mike Weaver supported with sound and music. All four volunteers are on the Board of Trustees for the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. In the photo you see the cast standing in front of a beautiful picture of the famous Valparaiso Inn. In the background is part of the first new exhibit for the room addition, the 1975 Vietnamese refugee Camp. This is the 50th anniversary of Eglin Air Force Base housing over 10,000 refugees over five months at the end of the Vietnam war.
Mid-Bay Rotarian Recognized as VPS USO Volunteer of the Year
Mid-Bay Rotarian Henry Snider was recently recognized as the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) United Services Organization’s (USO) Volunteer of the Year (2024). Henry volunteers for two, three-hour shifts each week at the VPS USO Center [Freedom Lounge]. The Center provides free internet services, program information, snacks and drinks to service members and their dependents while they are traveling through the airport. Henry has been volunteering with the USO for over 15 years. Congratulations!
